Sport horse study launched by University College Dublin

Buyers and sellers of horses in the show jumping, eventing, dressage and leisure markets are being asked to help with a study of the sport horse breeds of Europe.

Karen Hennessy, an event rider, PhD student and lecturer at University College Dublin (UCD) is investigating the connections between people’s perceptions of Anglo Europeans, Belgian and Dutch Warmbloods, Hanoverians, Holsteiners, Irish Sport Horses and Selle Francais and their performances in the marketplace.

“A horse’s breed holds image associations among buyers within the industry such as being sound, being good jumpers, having a good temperament and so on,” explained Ms Hennessy.

“I’m looking at how people feel about those breeds — their perceptions of how the different sport horse breeds perform, what breeds form what percentage of the sport horse market and then what breeders get in return for their horses.”

To take part in the survey, which is anonymous, visit www.ucd.ie/equine by 31 May.

The questionnaire will take up to 20 minutes to complete, and all successfully completed surveys will be entered into a draw for a pair of tickets for either Burghley Horse Trials or Horse of the Year Show.

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